Another heat of the annual Allianz Cumann na mBunscol 5-a-side Girls’ Indoor Gaelic Football competition for primary schools was held today in the Station Centre, Omagh. The competition got underway with seven local schools competing for the honour of winning this heat:
- Knocknagor PS, Trillick
- Roscavey PS, Beragh
- Sacred Heart PS, Tattyreagh
- St Oliver Plunkett PS, Beragh
- St Patrick’s PS, Gortin
- St Peter’s PS, Plumbridge
- Tummery PS, Dromore
All the schools had arrived to do battle and there could be only one winner. An extremely high level of skill and sporting behaviour was exhibited from all involved.
The seven schools competed for a coveted place in the Tyrone County Final and the format of the day’s play was 2 sections, where the top 2 in each section would make the semi-finals. The first game set the tone for the rest of the day’s play, with a Niamh McCullagh inspired St Patrick’s PS Gortin powering their way over a gallant Roscavey PS, from whom Annie Rodgers tried really hard. The second game in Round 1 saw Bella Mc Caffrey help Knocknagor gain a win over Caitlin Devlin’s Tattyreagh, in a game which really could have gone to either team. The final Round 1 game also saw Plumbridge lay down a marker that they would have a big say in the heat, when they defeated a plucky Tummery team, for whom Maddie Quinn tried her very best to stem the Plumbridge tide.
The opening game in Round 2 saw Sarah McBride help Plumbridge to another big win, this time over Roscavey, for whom Maeve Donnelly tried hard. Old rivals Tattyreagh and Beragh then locked horns, with the honours even on this occasion. Cara Donnell was the standout player for the Sacred Heart team, whilst Orla Teague pulled out all the stops to keep Beragh in the game and salvage a valuable point. The final Round 2 fixture saw Aoife Ward help Gortin to an impressive victory over Tummery.
Round 3 opened with a real ‘ding-dong’ battle between Plumbridge and Gortin, both of whom had been unbeaten at this point. Plumbridge had Rose Kearney in top form, whilst Gortin benefitted from the influence of Ellie McGuigan. It certainly wasn’t a game for the faint hearted, and in the end, Plumbridge secured a narrow 2-1 victory. However, there was a feeling all around that both teams would have a big say in the knock-out stages of the competition.
Knocknagor and Beragh were next up, and despite the gallant efforts of Charlotte Crawford leading Knocknagor, it was the Hannah Meenagh inspired Beragh girls who held on for victory and ensuring they topped their group. The final Round 3 game saw Roscavey and Tummery showcase all that is good about girls’ football, putting on a great display. The Roscavey girls battled hard, with Katie Mullin to the fore, but it was a Tierna O' Neill inspired Tummery who took the points at the end.
It was knock-out football after that, with Plumbridge v Knocknagor and Beragh v Gortin being the semi-final matchups. Plumbridge picked up where they left off in the group stages and powered to victory over a fantastic Knocknagor team who certainly will have more big days ahead.
The second semi-final was a tighter affair, but in the end, an ability to take goal chances proved to be the difference, with Gortin winning on a score-line of 2-1. The game could well have been an even bigger result for the Gortin girls, had it not been for the bravery of Erin Owens in the Beragh goals, a player who certainly put her body on the line on more than one occasion.
The scene was set then for the Plumbridge v Gortin final – 2 schools which were certainly the 2 best teams on display at the heat. In a very competitive game, it was always going to come down to small margins, and in the end, the Gortin girls’ ability to take more of their chances which proved vital and saw them win on a 3-1 scoreline. It was certainly hard on a Plumbridge team who had lit up the heat with their power packed running and taking of scoring opportunities.
We congratulate St Patrick’s PS Gortin and wish them well as they go forward to the County Final which is due to be held in Cookstown on Wednesday 12th March.
